Evans v. A Plus Tree

**Evans v. A Plus Tree Employment Case Dismissed** Evans filed a lawsuit against A Plus Tree and the Tacoma News Tribune claiming his employment rights were violated. He tried to sue under a federal civil rights law that allows people to seek damages when government officials violate their constitutional rights. The court dismissed Evans' case before it even got started. The judge found that Evans was suing private companies, not government agencies or officials. The federal law he relied on only applies when government employees or agencies violate someone's rights - it doesn't cover disputes with private employers. Since A Plus Tree and the Tacoma News Tribune are private businesses, this particular law couldn't be used against them. The court gave Evans until December 20, 2019, to file a new complaint that properly states a legal claim, or his case would be permanently dismissed. This case highlights an important distinction for workers: different laws apply depending on whether you work for the government or a private company. Federal civil rights laws that cover government employment don't automatically extend to private workplaces. Workers facing employment issues need to understand which specific laws protect them based on their type of employer.